Prevalence and predictors of human papillomavirus vaccination in adolescent girls

To determine the prevalence and predictors of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in adolescent girls who were recommended to receive the vaccine by their health care providers.

Cross-sectional study.

United States in 2007-08.

Parents or guardians most knowledgeable about health and health care of adolescent girls aged 12 to 17 years participating in the 2007 National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH).

NCSH was a population-based telephone survey using a complex probability sampling design.

Prevalence of HPV vaccination in adolescent girls who were recommended to receive the HPV vaccine and predisposing, enabling, and need factors associated with HPV vaccination.

Of 12.38 million adolescent girls aged 12 to 17 years, 3.69 million (29.76%) were recommended to receive the HPV vaccine by their health care provider. The majority who received the HPV vaccine recommendation were 13 to 17 years of age (83%), were white (71%), and had one or more preventive visits (94%). Among those for whom the HPV vaccine was recommended, 48.75% (95% CI 45.37-52.13) received the vaccine. Multivariate logistic regression analysis of those who were recommended revealed that enabling and predisposing factors were significantly associated with the HPV vaccination. Children living at 101% to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (odds ratio 0.54 [95% CI 0.30-0.98]) and children in households with two or more adults (0.51 [0.33-0.80]) were negatively associated with HPV vaccination, whereas children with any preventive medical care visit(s) (2.28 [1.36-3.84]) in the previous year were positively associated with HPV vaccination.

Nearly one-half of adolescent girls received the HPV vaccine among those who were recommended by their health care provider. The study finding emphasizes the importance of predisposing and enabling factors for HPV vaccination. Policy and education efforts can focus on these factors to improve HPV vaccination rates.